Carlow Flood Relief Scheme an Excellent Example of Co-Operation Among Public Bodies

 Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today visited the River Barrow flood relief scheme in Carlow town.

Speaking in Carlow this morning, Minister Hayes said: “I am conscious that Carlow town and county has been badly hit by flooding in recent years; we all remember the pictures on tv of the destruction caused here by some of the more recent flood events.  I am pleased, therefore, to see that Phase A of the River Barrow flood relief works has now been completed, consisting of the construction of flood walls on the east bank of the River Barrow north of its confluence with the Burrin River and also along the north bank of the Burrin river.  This phase also consists of works on the west bank of the Barrow, north of the Wellington bridge”.

The Minister continued: “This flood defence scheme will have real and tangible benefits for 27 residential properties and 34 non-residential properties.  The scheme is an excellent example of what can be done when public bodies work off the same page; this scheme was incorporated into the main drainage works carried out by Carlow County Council and I would like to thank the County Manager, Tom Barry, who is here today, and his officials for their co-operation throughout this process”.

Minister Hayes concluded: “I know that there have been some delays with the commencement of Phase B of this flood relief scheme but I am pleased that approval has now been granted for this phase to proceed.  This phase, valued at €2.5M is expected to be on site this summer and be substantially completed by the end of this year or early 2013.  These works will benefit 106 residential and 18 non-residential properties”.

Pathways to Work represents common sense approach to supporting jobseekers

Govt spend on supporting jobseekers has increased by €95 million to €977 million

Local Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Brian Hayes has welcomed the Government’s new Pathways to Work initiative which aims to help 75,000 long term unemployed people move into the workforce by 2015.

“A large number of people in Dublin South West have been affected by the unemployment scourge, either directly or through a loved one who has lost their job. Pathways for Work aims to stop the slide of people into long term unemployment (over 12 months) and to ensure that as many job opportunities as possible are filled by people who are on the live register. The State will engage with every jobseeker to make sure that their first day out of a job is also their first step on the pathway back to work.

“This involves a more streamlined approach, with the establishment of the National Employment and Entitlements Service (NEES). In addition to processing welfare entitlements, NEES employees will actively provide needs assessments and engage with newly unemployed people. It will then offer job search assistance or appropriate education, training or work experience opportunities to increase their employability.

“Many of the measures involved represent basic common sense and reflect international norms in relation to State involvement in supporting jobseekers. Unfortunately, under the last Government, State support for jobseekers cost a huge amount and delivered little as was evidenced by the FÁS debacle.

“I urge jobseekers in Dublin South West to engage with their local employment office and to avail of all opportunities to avail of jobs or training opportunities. Jobseekers who refuse to avail of these opportunities will see a reduction in the jobseekers benefit.

“Similarly, I urge local businesses in Dublin South West to re-engage with their local employment office when they have a vacancy to fill so as they can be matched up with the most suitable jobseekers. The Government has incentivised job creation by reducing VAT in labour intensive sectors such as tourism and halving the lower rate of employers PRSI.

“We have a highly skilled and educated workforce and this Government is determined that the mistakes of the 1980s and 1990s, when unemployment remained high even after economic recovery took hold, are not repeated. No one who loses their job should be able to drift without support into long term unemployment.”

Hayes welcomes DEIS announcement

Local Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Brian Hayes has today (Wednesday) welcomed clarification from the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, that 235 DEIS teaching posts, which had been due to be axed under Budget cuts, will now be retained.

Minister Hayes stated “I am relieved that the Minister has taken on board the concerns of teachers and parents in relation to the proposed cuts at DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 schools. This is a welcome development as we attempt to combat disadvantage and tackle issues regarding literacy and numeracy among young vulnerable children.

Minister Hayes concluded. “I would like to commend the Minister for listening to the concerns expressed by myself and other Deputies in recent weeks and allowing DEIS status schools retain these vital important teaching posts.”

Eurogroup Meeting February 2012

Click the link below to watch my interview on arriving at the Eurogroup meeting yesterday.

Eurogrip Meeting 20th Febrary 2012

Daniel O’Connell’s Home

During my visit to Kerry today I got to visit the home of Daniel O’Connell in Derrynane Co Kerry. In the picture you can see O’Connell’s throne that carried him from Richmond prison to Dublin City Centre following O’Connells release from prison.

 

 

Minister Brian Hayes announces funding for Cromane & Kenmare, County Kerry

MINISTER BRIAN HAYES ANNOUNCES FUNDING FOR CROMANE AND KENMARE, COUNTY KERRY

Brian Hayes TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), today announced funding for two areas that have been badly hit by flooding in County Kerry; Cromane and Kenmare.

Speaking in County Kerry this morning, Minister Hayes said: “I am pleased to announce that my office, the Office of Public Works, through our Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme, has today allocated €100,000 for embankment strengthening works in Cromane and €99,000 for works at Finnihy Bridge in Kenmare.  Both of these areas have received a considerable amount of coverage in recent times as a result of damage caused by floods and my colleagues in County Kerry have kept me apprised of the situation that has been developing here. I was keen, therefore, to visit the areas for myself and I had the opportunity to do so for the first time this morning”.

The Minister continued: “I can see now, at first hand, the importance of taking action in these areas, so I am allocating money for the removal of a beam and for the provision of a drain under the Finnihy Bridge in Kenmare.  I am also allocating funding towards the installation of gauges and the establishment of a monitoring programme at this location. It is important that I stress that it is still possible for Local Authorities to avail of funding under this Minor Works scheme and it is an area that is continuously given consideration by the officials in the OPW’s Flood Risk Management section”.

Minister Hayes was on a visit to County Kerry, during which he visited the above areas and also Rossbeigh beach.  He also visited Killarney House and Derrynane House to inspect ongoing renovation works.

Speech By Minister of State Brian Hayes TD to the Kerry South FG Constituency Executive – Thursday Feb 16th

Speech By Minister of State Brian Hayes TD to the Kerry South FG Constituency Executive – Thursday Feb 16th

 

“Borrowing for current spending robs our children’s future”

 “Interest payments on national debt climb from 2billion to 7.4billion in just 4 years”

The debate surrounding our national finances in recent years has focused on expenditure cuts, tax increases, bailouts and bond markets. The debate needs to be widened to take into account two issues which too date have not been part of that national conversation.

Both issues relate to borrowing and our national debt. The first is inter-generational equity and the second is the burden of interest payments.

It’s important that we differentiate between borrowing for investment purposes and borrowing for current spending. Borrowing at reasonable levels of interest rates for capital investment makes sense if the investment generates adequate returns. That is why the government will stay focused on the investment, enterprise and jobs agenda for 2012. We are determined to get this country growing again.

Borrowing for current spending however is much more problematic. There are serious questions of inter-generational equity to be addressed.

Borrowing for current spending is in effect this generation robbing its children in order to maintain existing standards of living. Effectively we are asking our children to take less in order that we might have more. Loading our children with the responsibility of repaying our ballooning debt is reckless and irresponsible.

Each generation has a responsibility to live within the means available to it. It is neither just nor fair that we should ask our children to pay the bills for our spendthrift ways. There needs to be a much stronger engagement by young people on the issue of borrowing and how it will be financed into the future.  At a time of economic crisis and national renewal we don’t want young people standing on the sidelines. Their view on this debt mountain that they are being asked to shoulder for a very long time is crucial in framing our discussion on the public finances.

Those who oppose the government’s efforts to bring into balance revenues and spending also wilfully ignore the elephant in the room – interest payments on our national debt.

The figures are truly staggering.

In 2008 interest payment on our national debt came to 2.1 billion euro, which was equivalent to 5.1% of tax revenues. In 2012 interest payment on our national debt is forecast to reach 7.4 billion euro that is equivalent to 20.7% of tax revenues.  Interest repayments for 2015 are expected to reach 9.2 billion euro, equivalent to 21.3% of tax revenues.

The vast bulk of Irish government borrowing is from external sources. Only a small percentage of the national debt is held by Irish citizens.  This means that interest payments on the national debt is leaving the country. As far as the Irish economy is concerned interest payments on the national debt is worse than dead money. It is a river of resources leaving the country every year.

Those who advocate increased government spending never address this critical issue. They seem happy to watch the debt mountain climb as more and more scarce resources leaves the country.

In all the talk about bailouts, borrowing and bond markets we need to keep some simple principles in mind.  There has to be a balance between revenues and spending, we need to stop growing the pile of debt and we need to be acutely aware of the wasteful treadmill that is interest repayments.

Just because we can borrow doesn’t mean we should do so. When a country borrows to excess it puts its hand in the dog’s mouth.

There remains an urgency regarding government borrowing and interest repayments on that debt.  Stop growing the debt pile and controlling interest repayments will continue to be priority issues. Failure to do so will restrict our ability to grow the economy, will further damage our children’s prospects and will seriously undermine our capacity to sustain public services and public sector pensions into the future.

We were here before in 1980s. This government is determined to learn from the mistakes that were made then. Small open economies that are highly privatised, such as Ireland, must control their national debt. Getting the Debt down, over time, as a percentage of national income is an absolute priority.